The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-01
THE COLOR QUESTION IN THE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH.
Sound and Conservative Views Of the
Methodist Brethren.
Southern Christian Adrocute.

II the effort is persisted in to mix both
races IN the same Church and to entitle each Ia
the same rights and privileges, the breach
will be widened instead of henlc Race In.
stinct on both sides revoltS against this, and
It is utter folly for the Bishop and his clergy
To set themselves against 1t. Fine spur theo
ries of universal equality may sound very
we'll on paper, but no well-wiSher OF either
race should attempt 10 enforce these IDEAS !, lil
any of our ecclesiastical organizations. The
best interests of both races demand independ'
ancc and separation. With these, let there be
the closest and most helpful fraternal rela-
tions. This, 1t seems TO us, Is the only practi.
cal and sensible solution of the color question
ms H. effects us In our ecclesiastical affairs.
This was the happy solution Of this question
made by the Al. f. Church. South, some years
ago, when our colored members were set up
into q distinct ecclesiastical body Of their own,
with their own Bishops, clergy, Conferences.
&C.. and vet all sustaining - close fraterhai
relationship to the parent body.
Something of this kind, let us hope, our
Episcopal friends may effect during the com.
ing year. Certain 1t is that the color line Is
here to stay. 1t cannot be wiped out by legis-
latures, ecclesiastical conventions. or by the
arbitrary acts Of Church prelnteS. what COO
has put asnnder by race and blood, u IS use
less for men to attempt to unite Perfect uni
ty and equality In Church relations Will soon
come to mean perfect equality In social rela-
tionS. If the colored Episcnpaians must now
have equal representati ION In the convention,
sufficiently strong to elect q colorcd 5ishop
And why should they not. If at AIRY time they
have the majority ofcOmmunicants ana the
majority of votes in the Convention? II they
receive the ministrations Of a white Bishop
noU why should not the white EplscopalianS
be served by q colorcd Bishop then?
On the question of law 1t Is likely that BlSii-
op Howe and his supporters are right, nut on
n question of eXpcdicncy TIE ADy0CATE
sympathZeS with the secedprS. The Eplsco-
pal Church and the cause ofChrist have moth
Ing to gain, but much to lose. by the almls-
sion of colorcd members and delegates to
seats in the Convention. The fact that this IL
done in other dioceseS Is no argument In It's
favor. Even while we write the papers inform
us of trouble in the Diocese Of North Carolina
because Bishop Lyman invited all the clergy,
black and white, of his diocese to an enter
lainment at his house during the recent Con
v"ntion in that State Be this rs 1t may, 1t Is
evident LlIai the mixture OF the two races IN
the same Convention, with equal rights ana
privileges, Is a long and important step to-
wards the obliteration of all race distinctions
in our social lite. Equality In the one Will
inevitably lead to equality In the other.
Our Episcopal friends owe 1t 10 themselves,
as we'll as to the Master. to do all In their pow
er to evangeliZe tho colored race. They owe
1t none the less to their Anglo-SaXon blood
and to the civilization of the century to con-
form their plans to the traditions of the race.
1t is only as they do this that they can hope for
success either In their white or their colored
work.